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hippopotamus spurning Serbia’s apple-topped pile of hay, and Anton the
tamarind eating a raisin representing Ghana… Mani the Parakeet of
Singapore became famous for correctly predicting the results of all four
quarternal matches. Mani contradicted Paul by picking the Netherlands
to win the nal, resulting in some media outlets describing the game as an
octopus-versus-parakeet showdown.
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Simply put, there were many animal oracles. Any oracle that could not
prove its accuracy slid into obscurity. From the sheer number of animal
oracles, probability suggests some would be accurate; chance is all that is
necessary. Reducing Paul’s results to luck rather than skill or divine guid-
ance should not detract from the fun he brought ...